Born on March 3rd, 1968 at 7:30 pm in Tampa, Florida, Susan Hopper (aka Moonbeam) became
interested in astrology while still in grade school. Driven by her
fascination with the human mind and interpersonal relationships, she earned
her BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of South
Florida. She applies Jungian and Cognitive theory to her work as an astrologer. A free-lance writer and counselor, Susan enjoys teaching the art and science of astrology and contributes regularly to Astrology on the Web.
Her interests include wilderness hiking, organic gardening and creative writing. Always interested in discussing the language of the stars, she can be reached though
this link.

2012 Horoscope ForecastAries the Ram in 2012 charging into the financial whirl!

Happy New Year, dear Aries! The year definitely starts off with a need to take action. Don't procrastinate if your resolution is to get yourself in a better economic position. To start, you'll need to get your working relationships and physical health in order before Mars, your planetary ruler, goes retrograde on January 24th in your 6th house of work and health. After that time, the flow of physical energy can make you more aggressive or competitive concerning work, co-workers, or employees. Do not give in to angry outbursts or rash actions. You may be required to get a medical and dental check up if you have not recently had one. There is potential to experience headache, fever, inflammation, or flare up of chronic illness until after Mars returns to direct motion, so prepare to take extra caution for a while.

The positive potential, however, can mean you are inspired to begin a program of physical fitness. Be sure to consult a physician and other health experts before you start. Under this influence enthusiasm can easily get out of hand. If your body is not used to regular or vigorous exercise be careful not to overexert yourself. It's no surprise you aren't feeling quite as dynamic as usual… with your ruler in reverse, your normal energy levels are at a 2½ year low. Use this time to develop greater spiritual, emotional and physical energy since relationships at work may suffer (the knives will be out!) and your health and vitality may be impeded.

Patience is not usually a word synonymous with the Ram, but it is something you will be practising a lot during the first quarter of the year. The good news is, after April 14th obstacles begin to fall away and Mars breathes new fire into your working life and your physical fitness as he turns direct again. You may need to take on extra help to cope with the influx of activity!

On the other hand, Jupiter, planet of luck and generally associated with wealth, will grace your 2nd house of money and personal resources until June 17th. This will help counter the effects of Retrograde Mars and possibly bring a lot of opportunity your way. In all likelihood, you will have what you need to get by and more, as long as you don't go overboard with spending. You may be tempted to make investments and to lend others money, but you might not get the results you hope for.

After June 17th, the Jolly Giant livens up your third house of communication, keeping you busy writing emails and making phone calls. So much so that by the time Jupiter turns retrograde on October 3rd, you will be ready for the slowdown.

Serious Saturn remains in your 7th house of marriage and partnerships most of the year, forcing you to bear the burden when it comes to love. Saturn governs the passing of time and many long term relationships are influenced by Saturn, who tests us through challenges we either meet and rise above or get destroyed by. Partnerships in general take on a much more somber tone, but this doesn't mean the end for your closest connections. Heavy responsibility will come through your contracts with others, whether you are in a supporting role or in need of some support yourself. You will learn and grow a great deal from your relationships, and from that growth will come great rewards.

After Saturn enters Scorpio and your 8th house of sex and other people's resources, you may find you need to tighten your belt up a bit. Money that you expect to come from investments or inheritances may not be forthcoming, and if you have a mate, he or she may have less of an income for the next two years or so. As the year comes to an end, try to minimize your debt and plan to be more conservative and frugal in the coming days.

Relationships: the Journey to the Heart

The year begins with lovely Venus lighting up your 11th house of friends and associates, making it easy for you to relate to those in your sphere. But after January 14th, Venus goes behind the scenes in your 12th house of secrets and solitude, making you far less social than usual. This is often a time of clandestine affairs and unrequited love, but for you it may simply be a time to recharge your spiritual batteries. Rest well, because once the Planet of Love enters Aries and your 1st house of personality on Feb. 8th, you will be in high demand! You will be at your charming best but might run out of steam when the Sun enters Pisces on Feb. 19th, draining you of your energy. The month before your birthday is typically a time when you need to conserve your energy, even if your adoring public is clamoring for you.

Your finances can benefit from Venus's warm glow beginning on March 5th, once she enters earthy Taurus and your 2nd house of money. You'll be especially lucky as she meets up with expansive Jupiter, who tends to give the Midas touch to everything. One word of caution: You may be tempted to go overboard with spending. If you have a windfall during this transit, save some for a rainy day!

On April 3rd, Venus enters Gemini and your 3rd house of communication, where she will take up residence for some time due to her impending retrograde motion, which will begin on May 15th. Venus' presence here will affect your perception and understanding of others. It may feel like you can practically read some people's minds but others remain inscrutable to you. The focus during this time will be on how you gather information from others and whether you are able to distinguish the truth from propaganda. An Eclipse on June 4th may test your loyalties… being true to yourself may be the only choice you have. It's best to refrain from making any important decisions or commitments at this time, choosing instead to wait until after Venus turns direct on June 18th.

Home and family becomes your refuge once Venus moves into your 4th house on August 7th. There may be some difficulty with your life partner or significant others as Saturn and Mars converge in your 7th house of partnerships, but Venus will act as the impetus to work things through. You may feel like you are driving a car with the brakes on, with opposing forces working against your efforts. However, this can be a time of great growth in your relationships, leading to more authenticity and intimacy. By September 6th, joy and pleasure return to your life as Venus occupies your 5th house of creativity and romance. Sex will be especially spicy as Mars teases from Scorpio, your 8th house of sex and rebirth, giving your intimate relationships an extra dose of intensity.

Harmony and balance become the focus as Venus in health-conscious Virgo moves into your 6th house of daily routines on Oct. 3rd, urging you to show some love to yourself. Relationships with co-workers will benefit from this influence, giving you a chance to create a more peaceful and enjoyable working environment. Venus harmonizes well with powerful Pluto in your 10th house of career, possibly indicating a raise or promotion in early October. After Oct. 28th, Venus blesses your 7th house of marriage and partnerships, helping to smooth over any hurt feelings or past mistakes.

Money will probably be tight towards the end of November, when Venus passes through your 8th house of funding from others and connects with stingy Saturn. You may want to splurge on gifts for the holiday season but you are better off giving gifts of your time rather than material offerings. You'll feel a lot jollier after Dec. 16th, when Venus makes her final transit of the year in your 9th house of philosophy and travel. The year ends on a decidedly optimistic note!

Home and Family

Pluto's long, slow transit opposite your 4th house of home and family will be most strongly felt around the time of the Full Moon on July 3rd and the New Moon on December 28th. If your home life has been suffering due to heavy demands in your career, you will need to find a way to strike a better balance. Some of you may also be dealing with issues related to a parent, most likely of the opposite sex.

Much of what we do in adulthood is influenced by the past, so take time to reflect upon what seems to strike a nerve with you. Pluto tends to dig deep into our psyches and always calls for the destruction of the old so that room can be made for the creation of the new. Be thinking about how you want to reinvent yourself, including your vision of what is right for you in terms of home and family.

Work and Health

Mars in your 6th house of work and health in the first half of the year is sure to arouse conflict and aggressive behavior in the workplace. Secret opponents may express covert hostility, so keep your aerials up and wiggling. Your responsibilities may increase and become rather intense due to the aggressive nature of Mars, and in turn you might find yourself getting stressed-out and run down. You'll need to guard your health and your time or risk getting sick or burning out. Overwork is the big temptation, and that can lead to major health issues.

Avoid conflict or sexual tension, especially in the workplace, as relationships with colleagues and underlings are likely to be rather twitchy, especially while Mars is retrograde between January and April, when the retro phase is at its peak. On the other hand, this is an excellent time to put a new health regimen in place—and you may even be forced to take care of yourself by circumstances. At this time you may feel frustrated with work and look for a change of job.

Do not be hasty. Be particularly cautious regarding safety at work, especially if you are near sharp edges or machinery. Don't be surprised if the printer, computer or some other useful appliance runs amok. With Saturn still in Libra, others demand more from you these days and you must decide whether you wish to give it or whether you want to draw the line.

Beginning in late August, your health and work come into sharp focus again, due to the Sun in detail-oriented Virgo. On the plus side, this is the perfect time to start a physical fitness program as you will have the discipline and energy you need to be successful. However, do watch out for conflicts at work due to competition and rivalry. Fortunately, Venus joins the party and helps to create a cooperative environment at work through October.

Career and Finances

The year begins with Lucky Jupiter in your 2nd house of money and possessions, giving you a once-in-twelve-year opportunity to increase your financial scope. Some of you may find that this is the perfect time to go into business for yourself, while others may take the conservative route of investing in property (a Jupiter in Taurus 'do'!). If you are thinking of asking for a raise or applying for loan, March is the most auspicious month.

One very important word of caution: The tendency to overspend and come down with a major credit card hangover is strong, so don't let the pleasure of spending money take over the potential good this transit can bring. Keeping up with the Joneses is not in your best interest, so don't feel like you need to impress anyone through material means. Any extra money you make should go to paying off debts and spending on luxuries should only be done sparingly! You'll be glad you were prudent come November, when the money may not flow as freely.

Ah, Mercury retrograde! You can expect Mercury to go retrograde three times a year for about three weeks each time. During retrogrades, you can expect miscommunication, delays in travel, and breakdowns in machinery and appliances. Usually these breakdowns are due to neglect or lack of attention to detail and the retrograde period simply brings this to the surface. It's often a good idea to hold off on making any important decisions, purchases, or signing contracts when Mercury is retrograde. Brides planning weddings should certainly consult an astrologer to avoid scheduling the Big Day during a retrograde! On the positive side, Mercury retrograde is excellent for research and investigation. It is a time to go over everything carefully, looking for loopholes, mistakes, and weaknesses. Here are this year's Mercury retrogrades and how they are likely to impact you:

March 12th – April 4th Mercury Retrograde in Pisces, 12th House

Unfortunately this comes right before and near your birthday, putting a bit of a damper on things. You may not feel like speaking much, and when you do, you may be completely misunderstood. Issues from the past that have not been completely resolved may haunt you, but you may not be fully aware of the cause. This is a time for personal reflection and recharging your spiritual batteries. Keeping a dream diary may also provide a great deal of revelation for you, as your natural psychic abilities are heightened.

July 15th – August 8th Mercury Retrograde in Leo, 5th House

Romance may seem to go south and creativity may feel stifled as Mercury makes it hard for you to express all that you feel. Writer's block may stymie you, making it next to impossible for you to write for work or for personal reasons. Lover's quarrels over the silliest of things may frustrate and annoy you, but you won't be able to escape them. Children in your life may also pose a challenge… you will need to be especially patient with them. My advice is to spend this time researching subjects that interest you or have been eluding you so that once Mercury turns direct, you will be ready to take off running!

November 6th – 26th Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio, 8th House

You can expect payments to get lost in the mail and loans to be delayed during this time. Anything having to do with the resources of others (including sex) will be stymied during this period. Guard against obsessive thoughts as you might find yourself going over and over events in your mind. Under this influence, you could just as easily be stalked or become the stalker! It's important to find a balance between researching and uncovering information and becoming paranoid.

Lunar Life with Lady Moon

Your personal New Moon occurs on April 3rd, rejuvenating and inspiring you to be the best you can be. This may have an impact on your closest relationships, as task-master Saturn is firmly entrenched in your 7th house of significant others. For some, this might mean that relationships that are no longer working will reach and end. For others, it means that the change in a relationship will begin with you, and the road ahead is long. In any case, it is time to be more authentic in all of your dealings.

Your Full Moon happens on Oct. 12th, and will represent the culmination of what began back in April. Again, Saturn will be opposing your efforts from your 7th house of significant others, and this includes competitors and open enemies. In games of tug of war, sometimes the best thing to do is just let go of the rope. In October, that may be your best option in some cases. In others, the determination and commitment to work things through will be evident, and the rewards will be great. Take time out to decide which the right course of action is.

Eclipses indicate change in the area of life they impact, and are often felt for much longer than regular lunations. In cases where the eclipse makes a close aspect to planets or angles in your chart, they can be felt for up to a year. Here is what to look for during the eclipse cycle of 2012:

A New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Gemini on May 20th could stir up an issue with a sibling or neighbor. Communication is the key to navigating this period, and keeping your facts straight will be vital. A dear neighbor might be moving, causing an ending but also opening up a chance for a new beginning. For others, old opinions may be changed by new information. It's possible you could turn 180 degrees on something you were previously quite firm on!

A Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius on June 4th only solidifies changes that began with the New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Gemini two weeks earlier. Major political and philosophical differences of opinion between you and others will be made crystal clear. You can always agree to disagree, but in some cases, friendships and associations might end. If you can't maintain a measure of respect, you have to decide which relationships mean the most to you. In situations where family is split along ideological lines, it's best to insist that the controversial subjects be avoided when you are required to gather.

A New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Scorpio on Nov. 13th highlights money owed to others, inheritances, and issues related to sex and intimacy. If you can arrange to pay off all of your debts during this period, you will be able to avoid a lot of drama. At the very least, try to purchase as little on credit as possible. Instead, focus on the increased sex drive you may find yourself blessed with! Some of you may also note an increased psychic sensitivity.

A New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius on Nov. 28th echoes what was begun during the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on May 20th, when your world view and philosophy came into sharp focus. By now, you have regained your balance and can handle whatever fresh hell the holidays might bring. Make merry with your extended family, neighbors, and coworkers, no matter how wrong-headed they might be! After all, in the end we all have the same needs.

That's it for the annual forecast of 2012, dear Aries. Don't forget to follow up the monthly forecasts for more detailed analysis and forecasts.